Golden Silk Orbweaver (Nephila clavipes)

            Southwest Florida
USA

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Closeup of a spider hanging its web in the plants in front of my dining room window. According to the information I found they should not really be in my front yard, but the spider was interesting and very photogenic. 

The golden silk orb-weavers (Nephila) are a genus of araneomorph spiders noted for the impressive webs they weave. Nephila consists of numerous species found in warmer regions around the world. They are also commonly called golden orb-weavers, giant wood spiders, or banana spiders.

These large spiders are common in many wooded areas here in Florida during summer and fall. The females are about 2" in body length and 4" to 5" from leg tip to leg tip. Their golden colored webs are several feet in diameter. Arachnid.

In Florida and other southeastern states, the golden silk spider, Nephila clavipes , a large orange and brown spider with the feathery tufts on its legs is well known to most native southerners. It is particularly despised by hikers and hunters, as during late summer and fall the large golden webs of this species make a sticky trap for the unwary. However, as is typical with most spiders, there is little real danger from an encounter with the golden silk spider. The spider will bite only if held or pinched, and the bite itself will produce only localized pain with a slight redness, which quickly goes away. On the whole, the bite is much less severe than a bee string. Typically, the webs are made in open woods or edges of dense forest, usually attached to trees and low shrubs, although they may be in the tops of trees or between the wires of utility lines. Prey consists of a wide variety of small to medium-sized flying insects, including flies, bees, wasps, and small moths and butterflies. They have also seen them feeding on small beetles and dragonflies.

Taken in: United States / Florida / Golden Gate (show map)

Taken on: July 7, 2011

Tags:

Backyard

Southwest Florida

My Front Yard

Golden Silk Orb-weaver

Nephila clavipes

Spider

Insect

Genus Araneomorph

Found In Warmer Regions

A/K/A Giant Wood Spiders

Banana Spiders

Large Spiders

Normally In Wooded Areas

5 Inches From Leg Tip To Leg Tip

Body 2 Inches

Webs Several Feet In Diameter

Despised by Hunters and Hikers

Sticky Trap

Less Severe Than Bee Sting

Local Pain

Slight Redness

Prey Small to Medium Flying Bugs

Flies

Bees

Wasps

Small Moths

Butterflies

Beetles

Dragonfies

Sue Roehl

Pentax K-7

12 X 35 mm Lens

Hand held

coth5 « less

Sets appears in: • Insects

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